UVU To Host Regional Intercollegiate Aviation Competition

Utah Valley University’s Aviation Science Department will host the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s regional competition, a competition of collegiate aviation teams in several events both in aircraft and with simulators, Oct. 24-27 at Provo Municipal Airport.

In addition to the 15-student team from UVU, the Region 1 competition will include teams from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Utah State University, Westminster College, Rocky Mountain College and Metropolitan State University of Denver. Teams are currently practicing at Provo Municipal Airport.

“Hosting this kind of a competition legitimizes our program and gives us credibility with other university programs throughout the country,” said Peter Dittmer, chair of the Aviation Science Department. “It reinforces the fact that we’re a major aviation program. We believe we have the best college aviation program in Utah and one of the best in the nation.”

The competition includes six ground events, including preflight aircraft inspection and flight simulation, and two flight events on Oct. 25-26 beginning at 8 a.m. The landing competition is scheduled for Oct. 25. The message drop competition, during which pilots flying at low altitude attempt to drop cargo next to a barrel on the ground, will be on Oct. 26.

“This kind of competition brings out the best of the airmen in collegiate aviation,” Dittmer said.

The top three students in the Region 1 competition advance to nationals scheduled for May in Columbus, Ohio, where they’ll compete with the top finishers from NIFA’s 10 other regionals.

“The students in this competition are going to be the future officers in the Air Force and the future leaders in the aviation industry,” Dittmer said.

The competition is free and open to the public and begins daily at 8 a.m. In case of inclement weather the flight competition may be postponed a day or two. Provo Municipal Airport is located at 3421 Mike Jense Parkway in Provo, Utah.

For more information on the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, visit www.nifa.us/.

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About UVU

Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah and is home to more than 30,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community school, state college and, finally a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees, with emphasis on undergraduate education.